August 9, 2013 Circulation Free 13,000 Indictments For Whom the Toll Also Rises … Handed Story and photo by Ron West Representatives of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) held a “meet Down for and greet” with the public Thursday at Northampton High School to explain the planned tunnel expansion and toll in- Arson creases. It was one of four sessions being By Linda Cicoira held in the area. He professed his love for the fire When it opened in 1964, the bridge- service and for his fiancée, Tonya Su- tunnel signaled the end of 90-minute fer- san Bundick. And now months after ry rides on seven car-ferries that had run confessing to dozens of arsons that oc- from Cape Charles to Norfolk, beginning curred in a five-month spree and im- in 1927 and later, from Kiptopeke Beach plicating his sweetheart in the crimes, to Little Creek. Charles Robert Smith III is alone in Jeff Holland, executive director of the facing 67 charges of deliberately set- CBBT District, noted that long-term ting fires. capital improvements, totaling in ex- On Monday, an Accomack Grand cess of $128 million, are projected to run Jury indicted Smith, also known as through 2032. Charlie Applegate, 38, of Matthews According to data provided at the ses- Road in Hopeton, on those charges. sion, ordinary maintenance work in the The crimes occurred between No- tunnels results in an average of 1,400 vember 2012 and April 2013 and hours of tunnel lane closures per year. The brought unrest and notoriety to the addition of a parallel tunnel for Thimble Eastern Shore. Shoals Channel is slated to begin in 2016 Smith also was charged formally and be completed by the end of 2020 at a with one count of conspiracy to commit cost of approximately $800 million. arson on April 1. That was the blaze That would leave will leave the one- that ended the binge, the one he got mile tunnel under Chesapeake Channel caught setting, the one that brought a as the only section of the CBBT with two- close to endless nights of listening to way traffic. Holland explained that the fire and rescue calls. Thimble Shoals tunnel was selected as Bundick, 40, of the same address the first tunnel to be paralleled as it sees is accused of driving Smith to the site three times the shipping traffic crossing it near Melfa. The couple was arrested Undersized Angler, Photo by Richie Turner as does the northern Chesapeake Chan- not far from the fire after he returned Six-year-old Conway Turner proudly displays nel, which leads to the Baltimore area. to the vehicle, leaving Claude Henry’s Oversized Catch one of the croakers he caught while partici- Holland said the new toll schedule house on Airport Drive in flames. pating in Don’s Tackle Shop’s Croaker Tournament. His mom, Cheryl, would be in place by Jan. 1 of 2014. It in- She was indicted on one count of ar- said Conway “has had so much fun with the tournament and going out cludes a $1 increase during off-peak pe- son and one count of conspiracy. Both fishing with his dad, Richie, every day. It has definitely been a great riods and a $3 increase during summer (Continued on Page 2) and memorable time for my little fisherman.” (See Page 13 for story.) (Continued on Page 11) 2 • EastErn shorE Post • august 9, 2013 Jan. 20; ~ Arson Indictments ~ (Continued From Front Page) •Eugene Turlington’s storage house Jan. 30; •Geneva Jubilee’s building Jan. 31; are charged with setting the last fire and plotting the •Henry E. Johnson’s building Nov. 13; •Albert McMath’s building Feb. 1; crime together. •property of Byrd Foods and Elizabeth Fitch Nov. 15; •Lynn and Linda Gayle’s building Feb. 2; Smith and Bundick are being held in Accomack •Lynn and Linda Gayle’s building Nov 15; •Robert Chesser’s building Feb. 9; County Jail. But that could change soon for her. The •Shirley Sturgis’ building Nov. 15; •Cornell Wharton’s building Feb. 10; threat of additional charges was a major reason bond •Linda Darnell Gunter Joynes’ building Nov. 17; •Leatherbury United Methodist Church Feb. 13; was denied in circuit court for the mother of two •Charlotte Williams Meek’s building Nov. 17; •an unoccupied house owned by Robert Williams and teenagers now in foster care. •Vergie Nedab’s building Nov. 17; rented by James Shreaves and daughters Feb. 14; “We certainly will” again seek bond, Bundick’s law- •Gary Ayers’ building Nov. 19; •Wayne Norton Sr.’s building Feb. 16; yer Shannon Dunham said Tuesday. “Judge (Glen) •Daniel Atwood Berry’s building Nov. 21; •Melvin Lewis’ building, Feb. 17; Tyler was pretty clear that without” more charges •Robert Webb’s building Nov. 22; •James and Teresa Kline’s unoccupied house Feb. 23; bond could be granted. “I’m sure she would like to get •Steve Vankesteren’s property Nov. 29; •Southeastern Virginia’s structure Feb. 23; back to her home and her children. She denies being •Shelly Allen’s building Nov. 30; •Bernice Walker’s property Feb. 24; involved in this to the extent anybody thinks she is,” •Grover Parker’s structure Dec. 3; •Ruby Gilliam’s building Feb. 25; said Dunham. •Peggy Scarborough’s building Dec. 7; •John Edmond Johnson’s building Feb. 27; Smith also was denied bond in district court and •Kate Wharton’s building Dec 12; •Jamie Kinica Pettit’s structure March 2; appealed to the circuit court. But after Bundick was •Lois Gomez’s building Dec 15; •Richard Hall III’s property March 3; turned down, a date never was set for his hearing. •Michelle Yugonda’s property Dec 16; •Beulah Sample’s property March 4; The 67 indictments include 59 felony counts of arson •Elaine Kimble’s property Dec. 17; •Ronald McCumbers’s property March 4; and nine misdemeanor charges. •Kelly Wood’s property Dec. 18; •Cleo Kelly Jr.’s structure March 7; The felony arson counts include fires set to: •Anita Johnson’s house Dec. 20; •Joyce Wharton’s property March 11; •Bertha Finney’s structure on Dennis Drive in •Louise Young’s property Dec. 22; •Whispering Pines Inc.’s former motel in Tasley Parksley Nov. 12; •Winter Cullen’s building Dec. 23; March 12; •wood, a fence, grass straw or similar material owned •property owned by Peerless Manatee, Inc. and •Land Holding, LLC’s property March 13; by Esther Evans and Millville Lumber Co. Nov. 13; managed by Susan Morris Dec. 24; •Danny Mills’ property March 14; •Matt Young’s building on Johnson Road near •Andrew Wiley’s property Jan. 20; •wood, a fence, grass, straw on Harold Jackson Parksley Nov. 13; •property owned by Clear Channel Communications Little’s property March 16; and managed by Nancy Chernoff •building of Byrd Foods and Elizabeth Fitch March 17; •Claude Johnson’s building March 21; •John Zardus’s building March 24; •Holland J. Bell’s building March 26; •Claude Henry’s house April 1. Cape Center Smith also is charged with the felony of conspiring 26507 Lankford Hwy. Cape Charles to commit arson at Claude Henry’s property on April email: [email protected] 1, as well as misdemeanor arson to: 757-331-1541 •Helen Julie Hasty’s property on Neal Parker Road Dinner Specials at Withams Nov. 13; Week of: Aug. 10 - 16, 2013 •Harry Gravenor’s building in Greenbush Nov. 13; Saturday •Orlando Drummond’s buildings two times Nov. 19; Blackened Tuna $1599 •David Hutchinson’s structure Nov. 28; Sunday •Susan Moehrle’s building Dec. 2; 49 Lunch: 3pc. Fried Chicken $7 •John Bowdoin’s property Jan. 20; 99 Lunch: Meatloaf $8 •Mark Rew’s building Jan. 27; Dinner: Grilled Marinated •W. Beverly Fletcher’s building ºMarch 3. Flank Steak $1399 Monday Chicken & Dumplings $899 Tuesday Hot Turkey Sandwich $899 Don’t Forget Wednesday Broiled or Fried Catfish $1499 to “Like” Thursday Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast $899 the Eastern Shore Post Friday Prime Rib: Queen: $1399 King: $1599 on Facebook August 9, 2013 • EAstErn shorE Post • 3 Top Northampton Salaries Go to Commonwealth’s Attorney, County Administrator By Linda Cicoira vious year. A third worker in that office each make $70,656 annually. That’s an vices (EMS) Hollye Carpenter is paid The annual salary of the highest makes $27,341. increase of $5,178 each since 2012. $64,779, compared to $60,032 in 2012. paid Northampton government em- Economic Development Director Bradford has three other people in her She oversees the work of 17 full-time ployee is $10,000 more than it was in Charles McSwain makes $107,715 an- office. Those salaries range from $27,809 emergency medical workers and about early 2012, according to a list compiled nually, the third highest salary. This is to $38,672, an average of $31,431. the same number of part-time ones. The recently by the Finance Department. his first year with the county. It is a Sayers has four other workers. Re- full-time salaries range from $50,078 Bruce Jones brings in $123,984 new position. assessment Appraiser R. Todd Simp- for the captain to about $30,000 for an as commonwealth’s attorney, nearly Traci Johnson, clerk of Northamp- son has a salary of $53,954. The oth- intermediate EMS worker. $9,100 more than in 2012. Jones is ton’s Circuit Court where the oldest er yearly incomes are $20,406 for a Building Official John Outten is elected to that post. He also holds the continuous court records in the coun- Deputy II, $31,881 for a Deputy I and paid $61,479, compared with $53,823 appointed position of county attorney try are kept, is the fourth highest paid $41,638 for an assistant.